Chapter 5: phistopheles
From the very beginning of his transmigration, Faust had already settled upon the goal of his life.
He would lead the Kingdom of Cleartide to rise, step by step, until it stood at the summit as the supre hegemon!
He would beco a legendary emperor whose na would be sung for ten thousand ages!
During these ten years as a prince, Faust had governed with tireless diligence, rising early and sleeping late. Was it not all for the sake of accomplishing a great undertaking?
To do great things, to do great things! Go!
【I see. You wish to beco an 「Overlord」.】
Faust imdiately caught the implication behind the Fae’s words. “Is that also the role of a protagonist within a certain kind of script?”
【Of course. An 「Overlord」 is a role greatly favored by fate. However, given your circumstances, the possibility of becoming one is vanishingly small. To speak plainly, there is no such possibility at all. It is not because of your temperant, but because the objective conditions simply do not allow it…】
So it really is like that…
Hearing the Fae say so, Faust sighed inwardly.
The prince knew very well himself that his dream of dominating the world was indeed extrely difficult, for the Kingdom of Cleartide was simply too weak.
This little backwater kingdom had been established only a few decades ago. In the past, it had been nothing more than a border province oppressed by the Empire. To take such a place as one’s foundation and build it up into greatness was not sothing that could be done without the efforts of several generations.
At the very least, Faust himself would most likely never live to see the day Cleartide rose to supremacy.
If his descendants proved capable, then perhaps after several generations of striving onward from the accomplishnts of their forebears, they might achieve true hegemony.
Yet Faust’s disappointnt lasted only a very short while. He lifted his head, his gaze resolute.
“Even so, my goal has not changed!”
“Whether it ans extending my lifespan or obtaining so extraordinary opportunity, there must be a way, must there not? No matter what, I must try, even if I fall and am shattered to pieces!”
Rather than looking back in his old age and feeling deep regret over a life of diocrity, Faust would far rather fight until there was nothing left to regret.
If a great man cannot dine from the five cauldrons in life, then let him at least be worthy of the five-cauldron death in the end!
【How interesting. I believe we may be able to make a bargain.】
“A bargain?”
Faust’s eyes widened. Then he heard the Fae say slowly:
【There is no need to be surprised. In these endlessly long and tedious years, if we do not put forth a little effort to amuse ourselves, most Fae would probably succumb to Dragonfall…】
【Child of Man, my original intention was simply to stand quietly at your side and watch the 「Witch’s Feast」 unfold around you. But since you possess such a determined will to press forward, I can help you fulfill your wish…】
The prince hurriedly said, “Would that truly be all right? I an… would you not be…?”
【I would not be defying fate. I would rely be carrying out my duty. It just so happens that you have been drawn into fate, and just so happens that you are being guided by …】
Faust imdiately understood the hint hidden in the Fae’s words.
This so-called “script of fate” did not an that there truly existed so incomparably detailed script dictating what every person had to say and do, with not the slightest deviation permitted.
A “script” was only a broad process, and as its facilitator, the room the Fae possessed to operate within it was imnse.
At once, Faust was overjoyed, and the gloom that had weighed upon him monts before was swept away.
With the assistance of one of the Fae, even setting aside blessings altogether, the re fact that such an ancient being might offer a little guidance through Their profound foresight would already be an astonishing informational advantage.
Steadying himself, Faust asked, “What must I give in return?”
Since it was a bargain, there naturally had to be give and take. If it were rely a one-sided blessing, he would not even have liked that.
To be helped by the Fae and to rely upon the Fae completely were two entirely different things.
And yet, even after wracking his brains, Faust could not imagine what such an exalted being might possibly gain from an ordinary mortal.
【A Child of Man who can awaken within a witch’s fate is already sothing unseen since ti immorial. Perhaps you truly might… Mm. There is indeed sothing I desire, but not now. Consider it an investnt on my part. We can speak of it once you possess the ability to help …】
An investnt… that was more or less in line with Faust’s expectations. At least for now, he was of no use whatsoever to one of the Fae.
“I understand. I only hope that the day will co when I can repay you.”
Faust nodded, then asked, “By the way, how should I address you?”
After conversing for this long, he still did not know the na of this Fae.
【phistopheles. You may simply call phistopheles…】
phistopheles…
Faust had never heard of this particular Fae before.
Though that was only natural. The existence of the Fae was no secret, but they were far too mysterious. Extrely few mortals had ever co into contact with them, and those whose nas had been left behind were rarer still.
【I possess more than enough patience to wait. For the mont, what matters most for you is dealing with the imminent 「Witch’s Feast」. This is no jest.】
【Ordinarily, a script of fate is certain to be completed. But if one of the characters upon the stage awakens, that certainty gains an elent of uncertainty. If the destined fate cannot be brought to completion… then that is an act of Defiance of Fate, and the consequences would be unthinkable.】
Hearing phistopheles issue such a warning, Faust grew serious as well. He weighed the crystal slipper in his hand and said, “As for that, I may already have a few guesses.”
The prince sat down before his desk, took up pen and paper, and began earnestly sorting through the matter.
At present, what could be confird was that the script of fate into which he had been drawn was most likely Cinderella.
One could say this was among the most classic of story templates. Across different eras and different lands, it had given rise to countless versions.
The figure of Cinderella could be traced back to a very early period.
The Greek historian Strabo once recorded, in the first century BCE, the story of a Greek girl nad Rhodopis who had married into Egypt, and this is considered the earliest version of the Cinderella tale.
At the ti, Rhodopis was washing clothes by a stream when suddenly an eagle flew past, snatched away her shoe, and dropped it at the feet of the Pharaoh, who was in the city of mphis.
The Pharaoh then ordered that all the won in the land try on the shoe to see whether it would fit, and in the end he found Rhodopis.
Another version of Cinderella was China’s Ye Xian. In that story, the diligent and lovable Ye Xian raised a goldfish. The fish was deeply attached to her and would surface from the water and lift its head only when Ye Xian ca to the edge of the pond.
Later, the goldfish was killed by Ye Xian’s stepmother. Following the guidance of a Heavenly God, Ye Xian secretly attended a grand festival.
As she hurried ho, Ye Xian left behind one of her shoes. The king of the island kingdom of Tuohan found the shoe, fell in love with Ye Xian, and married her.
Of course, the most famous version was the story of Cinderella in Grimms’ Fairy Tales.
If the “script of fate” in this world was also a form of Cinderella, then it would certainly follow a similar line of developnt.
What, then, was the core thread of the Cinderella story?
Faust lightly tapped the tip of his pen against the snowy white page and listed out a series of key points.
【A heroine subjected to unjust treatnt】
【Help from supernatural power】
【An encounter with the male protagonist】
【The heroine’s identity recognized through so object】
【The union of the male and female protagonists】
Roughly speaking, nearly every Cinderella story followed this sort of pattern in its developnt.
Once Faust had finished sorting it out, phistopheles’ voice of astonishnt rang out in his mind:
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